Measure CC appeared to be headed toward defeat late Tuesday, as only 52 percent of votes counted were in favor of Pasadena Unified School District’s proposed parcel tax, a county election official said.

Under state law, a two-thirds majority is required to pass a parcel tax. With voters dropping off ballots until 8 p.m. Tuesday, county officials expect the final vote tally to be completed by Thursday, said Marcia Ventura, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office.

Opponents of the proposed parcel tax were quick to criticize the Pasadena school board for even suggesting the tax.

“It demonstrates that the school board is out of touch with the people to have suggested a tax at this time,” said Ross Selvedge, No on CC campaign manager.

Measure CC is a $120 annual parcel tax intended to pump more than $7 million into Pasadena Unified’s coffers for the next five years. Proponents said the tax was critical to save teachers’ jobs, after the state cut $23 million from the district’s funding.

Volunteers at Yes on CC headquarters gobbled down a cake that CC supporters planned to eat in celebration. Instead they made plans for what could be a grim future for the district in between each fork full of spongy cake.

“The implications are clear, said Edwin Diaz, Pasadena Unified School District superintendent. “All the reductions we have to make are going to be a reality.”

The district issued preliminary layoff notices to 164 educators in March. Parcel tax supporters said the district could avoid as many as half of the projected layoffs by passing the parcel tax.

With the parcel tax headed to failure, Pasadena Unified may have to layoff all of those teachers who received notices in March. The district may also shut its school libraries, scale back art and music programs and cut Advanced Placement classes.

The cuts to teaching staff come at a time when the district is making progress on state tests that measure student performance, said Ed Honowitz, PUSD board member.

“We have to thank our teachers for all the work they’ve put in,” he said about the teachers that may receive final layoff notices in May. “Going forward I hope they remain in education.”

Forward thinking echoed through the Yes on CC campaign headquarters as people turned Tuesday’s defeat into a rallying cry to continue stumping for Pasadena’s public schools.

“This isn’t the end of this matter,” said George Brumder, Pasadena Education Foundation President and campaign chair of Yes on CC.

Brumder pointed to the campaign’s ability to convince more than half of the voters to support the parcel tax.

“The majority of this community did vote to tax itself,” he said.

The positive energy and support by a slim majority of the community could push district officials and parcel tax supporters to put another proposed tax on a future ballot.

“I don’t know what direction the board will take, but the need we have hasn’t changed,” he said. “If it means going back out again to fill that gap in funding from the state, we will.”

Pasadena voters had mixed feelings about the parcel tax. Some said it was necessary to support schools for the benefit of the city. Others expressed frustrations about more tax hikes.

“You don’t need to be a parent to care about your city,” said Ginko Lee, Pasadena resident.

While the $120 parcel tax may not seem like a lot to some voters, one man said the extra money for schools is no guarantee Pasadena Unified will improve.

“I am paying enough taxes already,” said Bill Briggs, of Pasadena. “I am not sure throwing the school more money will help.”

Briggs said he supports public education, but couldn’t support what he called a vague parcel tax ballot.

“The ballot language didn’t explain what the money would be for,” he said.